Throw-offs for rotary printing presses



May 27, 1958 H. J. LUEHRS THROW-OFFS FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES SSheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1954 May 27, 1958 H. J. LUEHRS THROW-OFFS FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 28, 1954 INVENTOR a ATTO R N E S y 1958 H. J. LUEHRS 2,836,116

THROW-OFFS FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Filed June 28, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 f INVENTOR it W/M BY 7J9MW/ M ATTORNEYS May 27, 1958 H. J. LUEHRS THROW-OFFS FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 28, 1954 INVENTOR J41? ATTORNEYS May 27, 1958 H. J. LUEHRS THROW-OFFS FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 28, 1954 INVENTOR WYM w ATTORNEYS May 27, 1958 H. J. LUEHRS THROW-OFFS FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 28, 1954 INVENTOR 14 ATTORNEYS Filed June 28, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR fim 7T M J ATTORNEYQ May 27, 1958 H. J. LUEHRS THROW-OFF S FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed June 28, 1954 INVENTOR fin? ATTORNEY.)

May 27, 1958 H. J. LUEHRS THROW-OFFS FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed June 28, 1954 %4 ATTORNEYS United States Patent THROW-OFF S FOR RDTARY PRINTING PRESSES Hans J. Luehrs, Westerly, R. 1., assignor to C. B. Cottrell & Sons Company, Westerly, R. 1., a corporation of Delaware Application June 28, 1954, Serial No. 439,562

9 Claims. (Cl. 101-182) This invention is directed to certain improvements in throw-offs for rotary printing presses and especially in individual throw-offs for multi-color rotary typographical printing presses.

In the conventional plate cylinder throw-offs wherein the form rolls remain stationary while the cylinder throws off and into contact with the form rolls, excessive ink is deposited on the high as well as the low portions of the plate. The first sheets through the press after a throw-01f will be spoiled, and frequent time consuming wash-ups on the plates are necessary to minimize this spoilage.

One object of my invention is to provide means for eliminating the above objectionable condition by providing individual means to simultaneously throw both the plate cylinder and the form rolls on and off.

A further object is to provide means whereby the ductor motion will also be turned on and ofi simultaneously with the throws of the plate cylinder and form rolls.

Another object, when this throw-01f is applied to multi-color printing presses, is to provide individual throws timed in sequence in order' to print the first sheet or repeat of a web when throwing on and to completely print the last sheet or repeat of the web when throwing off; without depositing ink on any exposed tympan surface.

Another object, when the throw-oii is applied to multi-color printing presses, is to provide each color unit with a combined plate cylinder, form roll, and ductor motion throw, automatically activated in timed relation to the impression cylinder and the other color units; and in addition to also provide an individual ductor motion throw for each color unit, activated conveniently and selectively at will.

Another object is to provide means for throwing on a set of form rolls, in coordination with their plate cylinder, in such a manner as to establish contact between the impression cylinder and the plate cylinder, and to establish contact between the plate cylinder and its form rolls simultaneously at the end of the throw-on movement.

Another object is to provide means to throw-oii a set of form rolls, in coordination with their plate cylinder in such a manner as to break contact between the impression cylinder and the plate cylinder and to break contact between the plate cylinder and its form rolls simultaneously at the beginning of the throw-off movement, whereby ample clearance will be established between the impression and plate cylinder and between the plate cylinder and its form rolls when in off position.

,Another object is to provide a ductor throw-E arranged in coordination with its plate cylinder and form roll throw, in such a manner as to activate the ductor motion and feed the ink when the plate cylinder and form rolls are on on position; or to inactivate the ductor "ice motion when the plate cylinder and form rolls are on ofi position.

Another object is to have each color unit, with its combined plate cylinder, form roll, and ductor throw, activated automatically in timed relation to the impression cylinder and to the other color units, and, in addition, to individual hand-operated throws, have each color unit with its combined plate cylinder, form roll, and ductor throw activated conveniently and selectively at will as a unit.

Another object is to provide means, in combination with the plate cylinder, form roll, and ductor throw, identical roller sockets which can be mounted either as form roll sockets within the above combination, or as distributor roll sockets; having, in both cases, individual throw-oil? means independent of the throw" for the plate cylinder, form roll, and ductor.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 represents, in side elevation, a diagrammatic view of. a six-color rotary printing press;

.Figs. 2 and 2a represent a detail side view of one of the color units with the several elements in the positions they assume when in their printing position;

Figs. 3 and 3a represent a detail plan view of the elements shown in Figs. 2 and 2a at one side of the press;

Fig. 4 represents a detail side view of the fluid pressure controlled, operatively connected elements, shown in their position to inactivate the ductor roll; together with the individual manually operated elements for inactivating the ductor roll;

Fig. 5 represents a detail view showing the said individual manually operated elements in their ductor roll inactivating position;

Fig. 6 represents a detail view taken in the plane of the line VIVI of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 represents a detail side view of the elements for throwing two of the four form rolls on and off contact with their plate cylinder;

Fig. 8 represents a similar view of the elements for throwing the other two form rolls on and off contact with their plate cylinder;

Fig. 9 represents a detail section taken in the plane of the line lXlX of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 represents a detail section taken through one of the form rolls in the plane of the line XX of Fig. 2a, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 represents a detail section taken in the plane of the line Xl-XI of Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 12 represents a detail section taken in the plane of the line XII-Xli of Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 13 represents a detail section taken in the plane of the line Xlll--Xlll of Fig. 10, looking in the direction of'the arrows;

Fig. 14 represents a detail section taken in the plane ofthe line XlV.XiV of Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 15 represents a'detail perspective view of one of the distributor sockets, the several elements being separated from one another;

Fig. 16 represents a detail view of the socket and its adjacent elements taken in the plane of the line XVl- XVI of Fig, 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 17 represents a detail section taken in the plane of the line XVII-XVII of Fig. 16, looking in the direction of the arrows.

As all of the printing units are alike in construction I finder by 2 V includes-the following-telemen andnperation,.Lhavehchosemto;showdescribetonln ,one of the printing units with its throw off mechanism for the plate cylindentormrolls and ductor.

"llheiimnressicnzrcylinder;is.denotcmby litheeplatezcyl; 7 and its shaft by 3. 'oy;;4.1. 1 Y r The inking mechanism which s carried :by theirollstandfg The roll standgis'idenotedr 5" Theiink fountain .55,Ithe;founta1n;roll.6, theaoscillatingtgz ductor. roll, and'itsarm-8 faston therockshzift 9.- AHOHIQZQUHTIQ is;.-.fast;on:.th'e. :rockishaft 9,; which is.

' providediwithra roller; lLheldagainstitherfaceroiza rotary cam 12 by the usual'lo'ngitudinal yielding spring;13 .con-; nected. on-its. upperrend to. an;arrn..-14; fasten the: rock shaft 9,. Theiductor, r0117 seryesto transfer the ink fromfilteiouhtfiimroll6J0 thezidistribution' rolls 15., 16' which, in:.turn;,, transfer. the ink to i'the distribution :rolls: 17,18, rotativeiymounted in;the-sockets*:19',' 20;

Theiinkcylinderfi carried'by the. rotary shaft 22 re-; ceives the inkfrom .the distribution rolls 17,18 and transfers. theink; to the upper and: lowerdistribution rolls 23, 24, rotativ'elytm'ounted in. the sockets 25,226.. These. rolls 23,24transfer. the ink to. the upper and lowervh .bra'tor rolls 27, 28 ,mounted' on the shafts :29, 30.. The: upper. form IOl1S-31232 serve to. transferithe. ink from theupperwvibrator; roll 27 tothe plate,cylinder-:2;.and the...

lowerrform rolls 53,154 to. serve to; transfer theink: from; the; lower vibrator rolllfitto thesaidplatezcylinder 2.

The endsocketsi35,"3:6;0fjtheupper formirolls-Bl, 32" swingcnrthie upper} vibrator. roll shaft 29; and' the. end sockets37, 38 'ofthe lower formg'rollsz33, 34 swingon they lower vibrator rolLshaft 30.

Endwise movable, bars 39. operatively. connect the-arms? i 40, 40* and 41, 41* of the ,form roll sockets'=-35;'37;"

' and endwise movable-bars ,43 operativelyconnect the arms-44, 44* and, 45,45"? ofthe form roll sockets 36, 38.

The means for simultaneously throwing-.ofFithe plate: cylinder-:2, the formzrolls 31, 32, .3.3,.34 and the ductor rol1;7,' is;.constructed; arranged andoperated as-:follows:': An air cylinder'46 has its piston rod 47 pivotallyyconnected to a rocklever arm-48 fast on a sleeve'48*mounted, on the throw-01f rock shaft 49,.whichirock shaft is" provided at each end with a rock lever arm 50.0peratively connected through an. adjusting screw 51 toa projection 52.011 the. eccentric bearing 53j for. the plate cylinder ings 53 serve to throw the. plate-cy1indrr2,on and cit? contact with the impression cylinderv 1. Atone end of this throw-off rock'shaft49 Within the frame -54 thereis-provided alever arm55,which is connected by a link '56 to a projection ;57 on a sleeve or strap 58 mounted on the eccentric bearing 153Cwithi'nva circumferential groove 59.

Another projection 60 from thisstrapSS has an operi groove 61 which receives (when the'roll stand 4 is moved to its operative position) .aroller 62 mounted on the end of one lever arm v63. fixed Ito theform roll throw-off" shaft 64. The other arm 65 of this lever is connectedto' theductor roll throw-off-mechanism as will be hereinafter described. a

This shaft 64 has also fixed thereto, at each end thereof; a lever provided-with:twooppositely directed arms 66, 67 having longitudinal slots 68, 69 for receiving blocks 70, 71 carried by the bars 39 and 43 respectively;

The mechanismgfor, simultaneously .throwing-ofi the ductor roll with the platexcylinder and form rolls, is shown as constructed, arranged and operated -as=follows:

Theleverarrn 65; is. engagedzatr72 tosone arm 73 ofa rocklevermountedv on :the shaft-22,,the; othenarm .74sof' saidllever.beingiconnected. at 75 tottheupperendioffa longitudinallymovable rod .76, which is ,yieldingly held:in positionby a coil spring,'77; the vloweriend: oi-thisrad 176. is arranged to be brought into position to inactivatethm ductor roll 7 by providing itsshaft 9,.wit-h a leverarm 7.8, which'is fast to rockwith' the ductor rollarm 8 and the shaft 3. The rotative movement. of the eccentric bear- .7

cam operated armnlfi,

I 19 for the. distributor roll. 17

14' 1 his arm..78 may. be provided with a roller 79 arranged imposition to be engaged by I the said 'rod 76whenthe rod is moved downward by movement of therock lever arm 74. V I

' Theindependently operated means for inactivating the ductor roll 7 is shown as comprising the following-cle ments: ja hand lever ,80 is'fast on a rock shaft 81. 'A. 'cam:82;is. also fast.;on; the frock. shaft 81. Whenrthe' leverffitlis. in its lowerposition, asshownin Fig.7 2,..

the raised portion of the cam. 32fwill1be. outlof'the-patlf of the rolie'r '79 of the ductor cam arm Whenihis hand lever 80 is raised to its other position, the raised portion of the cam 82is brought:into blockingengage ment with the roller 79, thus inactivating'theductor roll 7.

A spring mounted detent 83' serves to yieldingly hold the levers 63, 65 and, 67in either their on or 011 position to prevent the accidental over-travel of the. roller 62Lon the endof the lever arm 63, and' thus. ensure its: engagement with the opengroove 61 'in the strap 58. I As all of the pairs of end sockets for the for'nrrollers -.v arejthel same-,one of the socketsgipe, the socket 235 for. the-formroller 31 will only-be specifically described asafollowsz Therec'centric: stud 84 serves to firmly clamp the-- SQCkQtfIiS, theiblock 85'and the block 86 to thetseat 872' byameans: of aspring 88. Theeccentric stud 84 has. at stop-9. whichallowsthe stud to =be;-=r otated' 180 0111 This partial rotation'serves to throw the socket B5 and its? der .2. by, means of: the: eccentricu90, block 91; and en gaging block; 86in; a::.direction imposed to the unit. a

line 96indicates the. movement of the form roll 31"when the; stud Skis-rotated".through'itsdaflfz The straightline: 97 indicated the movementofthe-zform roll f3llby thefi adjusting screw 93,. The straight 1ineg98'. indicates-1h movement *of.;the:-form roll 31 by the zadjustingiscrew 9' r It-will thus bezseen "thatrall. of, the form :rolls 'h'ave two independent throws and two independent adjustmentsz- As 13111015 the pairs of; end: sockets 'for the" distributor rolls. are the; same, .oueaof these. sockets; i; e. thessoeket rollv 15, by means'ofrthe eccentric 104, block ;.1andz;

engaging block' 101. in a direction as imposed toithe;unit,:;.

by pins 106. Adjustingscrews 107 and.j108 are-.pro-.

vided for initially settingthe distributor roll 17 contact with the ink drum 21 and ink roller 15. p The straight line 109 indicates the movement of. the

distributor roll 17 by the .180? 'rotative movement of the eccentricstud'99: The straight'lin'e' 110 indicates the movement-or" the distributor roll 17 'b'y the adjustment of? the screw 107. Thestraight line ll l' 'indicates thetmove ment zof the distributor roll '17 by the adjustmentof thescrew-.1.08.' It'will thus be seen that all the distribution rolls: hayesone independent throw -and; two independenb adjustments; 7 r 7 In operation, when the .-several.:elements: of that -assem-jbly, areainiheirioperative positionsaassshownin FigsuZg-lii, anditis desired .to;thro.w the said elementszout of'their operative positions, the procedure will. be. .asxfollows:=: The air: cylinder .46; is caused; through: its; connectionsz: to 1 throw the plate cylinderr2: =.outi:ofi contactawith': their impression cylinder 1, by the rotative movement of the for proper.

eccentric bearings 53 in which the shaft 3 of the plate cylinder is mounted. At the same time the rotative movement of the straps 58 will rock the lever arms 63, 65 and the lever arms 66, 67 to move the bars 70, 71 in a direction to swing the form rolls 31, 33 anti-clockwise and the form rolls 32, 3d clockwise, out of contact with the plate cylinder 2. At the same time the lever arm 65'will swing the lever arms 73, 74 to move the rod 76 downwards to cause the lot er end of the rod to block the roller 79 on the depending ductor lever arm 78 and thus prevent the ductor roll 7 to he oscillated by its rotary cam 12 through the roller 11 and its lever arm 10.

From the above description, it will be seen that when it is desired to throw in the plate cylinder 2 and the form rolls 31-34 and to unblock the ductor roll 7, the several elements of the throw out assembly are operated by the air cylinder 46 to simultaneously throw the elements into the coacting positions shown in Figs. 2 and 2a. The form roll sockets 3538 and the distribution roll sockets 19, 20 and 25, 26 may then be manually adjusted to bring their rolls into proper positions to produce the best results.

When it is desired to simultaneously throw out the plate cylinder, the form rolls and the ductor roll, the several elements are operated by said air cylinder through the various elements to turn the eccentric bearings 53 to move the plate cylinder out of contact with the impression cylinder 1; to swing the form rolls away from their plate cylinder; and, through the levers 63, 65 and 73, 74, to move the bar 75 to block the depending arm 76 of the ductor roll 7.

While I have shown my invention in connection with a multi-color typographic rotary printing press, I do not wish to be limited to the type of press, nor to the number of printing units.

By providing an independently manually operated means for throwing off and on" the ductor roll, it will be seen that this result may be accomplished even when the roll stand is in its retracted position.

It will be seen that the plate cylinder, form rolls and ductor of each color printing unit may be thrown on and off in timed sequence with the other printing units, and that also each such unit may be thrown on and off by manually and selectively controlled power.

It will also be seen that the form and distribution roll sockets which are of uniform basic structure, having means to individually throw these sockets with their rolls on and off in a selected direction by a single manual movement for each socket; automatic locking devices being employed in addition to the two direction adjusting elements for the initial setting of said rolls.

It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in the construction, form and arrangement of the several elements, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not intend to be limited to the particular embodiments herein shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. In a rotary typographical web printing press, a fixedly mounted impression cylinder, a coacting throwofi plate cylinder, form rolls therefor, a ductor roll, and a common power means operatively connected to the plate cylinder, the form rolls and ductor roll and operable to simultaneously throw off or on the plate cylinder and its form rolls and to inactivate or activate the ductor roll.

2. In a rotary typographical web printing press, a fixedly mounted impression cylinder, a coacting throwoif plate cylinder, form rolls therefor, a ductor roll, a common power means operatively connected to the plate cylinder, the form rolls and ductor roll and operable to simultaneously throw off or on the plate cylinder and its form rolls and to inactivate or activate the ductor roll, and the individual manually operated means for independently inactivating or activating said ductor roll.

3. In a multi-color rotary typographical Web printing press, a fixedly mounted impression cylinder surrounding the impression cylinder, coacting throw-01f plate cylinders, an ink distribution for each plate cylinder including form rolls and a ductor roll, and a common power means operatively connected to a selected platecylinder, its form rolls and ductor roll and operable to simultaneously throw oif or on the selected plate cylinder and its form rolls and to inactivate or activate the ductor roll.

4. In a multi-color rotary typographical web printing press, a fixedly mounted impression cylinder, coacting throw-off plate cylinders surrounding the impression cylinder, an ink distribution for each plate cylinder including form rolls and a ductor roll, a power means operatively connected to a selected plate cylinder, its form rolls and ductor roll and operable to simultaneously throw off or on the selected plate cylinder and its form rolls and to inactivate or activate the ductor roll, and individual manually operated means for independently inactivating or activating said ductor roll.

5. In a rotary typographical web printing press, fixedly mounted impression cylinder, a coacting throwoff plate cylinder, form rolls, a ductor roll and a common power means operatively connected to the plate cylinder, the form rolls and ductor roll and operable to simultaneously throw ofi or on the plate cylinder and its form rolls and to inactivate or activate the ductor roll, comprising a plate cylinder throw off shaft, a form roll throw off shaft, devices operatively connecting the power means to the plate cylinder throw off shaft, devices operatively connecting the plate cylinder throw off shaft to the form roll throw off shaft, and ductor roll controlling devices operatively connected to said form roll throw off shaft.

6. In a rotary typographical web printing press, a fixedly mounted impression cylinder, a coacting throwolf plate cylinder, its shaft, form rolls and a ductor roll, and power means operable to throw off or on the plate cylinder and form rolls and to inactivate and activate the ductor roll comprising, eccentiric bearings for the plate cylinder shaft, devices operatively connecting said plate cylinder throw off shaft to said power means and said eccentric bearings, devices including a strap rotatively mounted on one of said eccentric bearings operatively connecting the plate cylinder throw off shaft to the form roll throw off shaft, and ductor roll controlling devices rotatively connected to the said form roll throw off shaft.

7. In a rotary typographical web printing press, a fixedly mounted impression cylinder, a coacting throw-off plate cylinder, eccentric bearings therefor, a strap rotatively mounted on one of said bearings, upper and lower pairs of form rolls, rocking supports therefor, a ductor roll, a rocking support therefor, and a common power means operable to simultaneously throw off or on the plate cylinder and its form rolls and to inactivate and activate the ductor roll comprising, devices operatively connecting the eccentric hearings to the power means, devices operatively connecting the said form roll rocking supports to the power means, and devices for blocking and unblocking the ductor roll, operatively connected to said strap.

8. In a rotary typographical web printing press, a fixedly mounted impression cylinder, a coacting throw-off plate cylinder, eccentric bearings therefor, a strap rotatively mounted on one of said bearings, upper and lower pairs of form rolls, rocking supports therefor, a ductor roll, a rocking support therefor, and power means operable to simultaneously throw off or on the plate cylinder and its form rolls and to inactivate and activate the ductor roll comprising, a plate cylinder throw off shaft and rock levers thereon, operatively connecting the eccentric bearings to the power means, a form roll throw off shaft and levers thereon, operatively connected to said strap and to the rocking supports for the form rolls, and a stop rod for saidductofroll rockingsnppertfs, operativel y, ep nnectedfd 7 said, formroll .ihrowidfi shaft. V

lever, and a common powermean operatively, connected, 7

' to theplate cylinder 'to throw theplate-cylinder,01f? or, on and also operatively connected to: said form r011, rock shaftio threw [:he formkrollsFofi or .on,, and

to inac-tivate and activatethe s aid ducjqr r lL operatively conneeted to the' ductor roll'gand 20136 12151 0 REfiencES Citd intheifile. ofrthisflpatenf UNITEDlSTATES PATENTS: r

1,214,485 White 12111.30; 1917,

1,436,653 Green Nbv. '28, 1922 j 1,611,797 Warnock- Dec.121*, 1926f 1,874,013 Kaddela'nd' Aug; '30, 1932] 2,162,812 I-Ia rrold et.al. JuneZQ, '1939 2,459,922 Craftsg Jan. 25,1949 2,635,539 Peyrebrune Apr. '21, 195 3 2,653,537

Peyrebrune Sept. 29," 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No o 2,836,116 May 27, 1958 Hans J. Luehrs It is hereby certified that error appears in the -printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, lines 2 and 3, strike out surroundring the impression cylinder" and insert the same after "cylinder" in line 4; line 15, for "a power" read a common power e; line 68, for "and power" read eand common power Signed and sealed this 14th day of October 1958 SEAL) ttest:

KARL H, AXLINE Attesting Oflicer ROBERT C. WATSON Commissioner of Patents 

